I love when a character starts talking to me and I’m compelled to write it down.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on several projects. I was approached by a group of authors to join them in a self-publishing venture—we all write our own books but they revolve around a similar theme and legend. Mine comes out in the fall, so I’m busy writing right now. I’m also in the middle of editing a series of books that I need to figure out what to do with.

Of all the settings you’ve used (or created!) for your books, which is your favorite? Why?

I write a lot of Jewish characters, so many of my books are set in New York City or the surrounding area. It’s what I know best, so it comes easily to me.

Have you ever dreamed about a character you created?

All the time! I still dream about Gideon from A Heart of Little Faith.

Awesome! If you could have a conversation with anyone—dead or alive—who would it be?

I’ve always been intrigued by Thomas Jefferson. I’d love to talk to him about his inventions. And I’d love to talk to my grandmother—I have some serious questions for her!

My husband and I used to work for Colonial Williamsburg, so I agree with you about Thomas Jefferson. He’d be a fun guy to talk to. If you could travel to any time and place, when and where would that be?

So many places and time periods! I’d love to go to Scotland in the middle ages, the US during the Revolutionary times, Jerusalem during Biblical times…

Cool choices! If you could step inside any book or series and live there for a week, which would you choose?

Lynn Kurland has two series that intertwine—the dePiaget Family and the MacLeod Family. They are time-travel romances and I’d love to explore them for at least a week if not longer.

If a fairy godmother appeared and offered you one thing—anything at all—what would you request?

Happiness for my family.

I want that for mine, too. Now, it’s time to learn some of your favorites!

Sound:My girls’ laughter

Eye color:green

Foreign language (whether or not you speak it!):French

Song:“1000 Years”

Book:Jane Eyre

Movie:Dirty Dancing

TV show:MI-5

Cuisine:Anything I don’t have to cook

LOL. I love it! Cookie:chocolate chip–mine

US location:Block Island, RI

Foreign location:Paris

And finally, list your preference from the following choices:

Tea or coffee?Coffee in the morning, tea at night

Cake or pie?My mom’s apple pie

Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes?Sherlock Holmes

Jane Austen or the Brontë sisters?Brontë sisters

A mortal, vampire, ghost, or fae for a lover?Depends on who he is.

English gent, Scottish highlander, European count, or all-American guy?Scottish Highlander

Thanks so much for joining me today, Jennifer. Waiting for a Miracle sounds like a wonderful read, and I love the cover! Wishing you all the best with it!

For all you avid readers, here’s the scoop on the story:

Benjamin Cohen, widowed father of six-year-old Jessie, is doing his best to hold it together through order and routine. The last thing he needs is his matchmaker mother to set him up with her next door neighbor, no matter how attractive she is.

Rachel Schaecter’s dream of becoming a foster mother is right within her grasp, until her meddlesome neighbor tries to set her up with her handsome son. What’s worse? He’s the father of her favorite kindergarten student! She can’t afford to let anything come between her and her dream, no matter how gorgeous he may be.

Can these two determined people trust in the miracle of Hanukkah to let love and light into their lives?

A peek between the pages:

Six-year-old bodies were good at many things— bouncing, hugging, and racing. Rachel was thankful they were also good at hiding her surprise. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine her favorite student, and her student’s father, would be at her neighbor’s house the same night she was invited to celebrate Hanukkah.

She met the hard gaze of Jessie’s father across the room. Eyes narrowed as if he suspected her reasons for being here. His broad shoulders were stiff. His jean-clad muscular legs were spread apart in a solid stance. Square hands fisted at his sides, and one of them held a menorah. Did he plan to throw it or club someone with it?

Giving Jessie a last pat, she rose. With an arm around Jessie, she extended her other hand to her father. “Happy Hanukkah.”

“Ms. Schaecter.”

“Mr. Cohen.”

“Oh, please,” Harriet said, “Such formality between you two. Rachel, this is my son Benny. I mean Benjamin.”

Benny. Rachel filed the information away for later, along with his flushed skin at the nickname. Interesting.

“And Benjamin, this is my neighbor, Rachel. We’re not at a school event. You can call each other by your first names.” Harriet pointed at Jessie, who gripped Rachel’s hand so hard, Rachel’s fingers lost their circulation. “Except for you,” Harriet added. “You have to call her Ms. Schaecter.”

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.

She writes contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters. She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.